Manchester United find themselves facing one of football’s sternest tests going into the second leg of their Champions League quarter final with Bayern Munich following a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford tonight.

In the first half, United played with more organisation and discipline than they have in recent weeks and with the possible exception of Marouane Fellaini there could be few players in the United side deserving of criticism.

United’s night got even better on 58 minutes when Nemanja Vidic was left isolated in the Bayern box at a corner and with an expertly guided header scored from 8 yards out.

Old Trafford erupted and the unlikely result seemed a possibility but that elation lasted less than 10 minutes. Bastian Schweinsteiger levelled the game and gave Bayern the advantage in the tie with a well finished, but easily worked, goal. United’s defence reverted to type an a series of Bayern players found themselves unchallenged before Schweinsteiger finished the move with a top corner shot pa De Gea.

Schweinsteiger was sent off in the final minute of normal time but United never threatened to earn the win and now face the challenge of earning, at least, a score draw in Munich.